Do you believe that it is worth rebuilding New Orleans where it is with stronger levees?
Katrina & Ophelia
Here's the part of FEMA's National Situation Update for Sunday, September 11, 2005 relating to hurricanes Katrina and Ophelia:
At 5 a.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Ophelia was located near latitude 31.7 north and longitude 75.9 west, about 250 miles east-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina and 245 miles south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Ophelia is stationary and is expected to remain nearly stationary today.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 85 mph with higher gusts. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 150 miles. Ophelia is a Category one hurricane and little change in strength is forecast during the next 24 hours. Estimated minimum central pressure was 978 mb (28.88 inches).
A Hurricane Watch remains in effect for the southeast coast of the United States from north of Edisto Beach, South Carolina, northeastward to Cape Lookout, North Carolina. The Hurricane Watch may have to be shifted northward later today. A portion of the Hurricane Watch area from Savannah River, South Carolina, northeastward to Edisto Beach, South Carolina has been discontinued. (National Hurricane Center)
Current Situation: The Region 3 RRCC maintains at level 3 activation. State Liaison Officers (SLO) remain deployed to the District of Columbia (DC), Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Region 3 representatives are also staffing shelters in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington, DC and at Camp Dawson, West Virginia.
Regional representation at each shelter is assisting the states in meeting the immediate needs of the displaced Americans, including assisting applicants registering for assistance.
The Red Cross has established a reception point in Prince George’s County, Maryland to assist displaced Americans with receiving various forms of aid, including FEMA disaster assistance. FEMA HQ sent CR and the Office of Legislative Affairs representatives to the American Red Cross office in Hyattsville, MD. They provided a briefing to Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD-5), his staff and county officials.
West Virginia: The state remains in a stand-by mode concerning receipt of additional displaced Americans. There are currently 297 on-site, 13 have relocated and 6 are in local hospitals. 100% registration of 316 evacuees has been accomplished. 132 individuals were registered and 61 families were registered. Approximately 900 meals were served to evacuees at Camp Dawson and 8 CR staff at Camp Dawson - mission primarily completed as all evacuees have been registered with FEMA. Shelters Occupants: Camp Dawson: approximately 297, Hospitals 6. A FEMA State Liaison Officer is on-site at the WV EOC. A FEMA RIII representative is onsite at Camp Dawson assisting displaced Americans.
District of Columbia: Current number of displaced Americans in DC at the Armory is approximately 178. 150 Electronic Banking Cards (EBS) have been issued. A badge issuing station has been established and is operating 24 hours in the Armory, as well as a laundry facility. 10 CR staff is on site at the Armory assisting displaced Americans and 346 individuals/families have registered with FEMA for assistance and provided a current address within the District. Shelter Occupants: Armory 178. (FEMA Region III)
Status of emergency response assets in preparation for the potential impact of Hurricane Ophelia:
South: Hurricane Ophelia is forecast to be a category 1 hurricane when it strikes land between Wilmington and the Outer Banks but it will be strong enough to down trees and power lines, cause at least cosmetic damage to homes and businesses and produce torrential flooding rains, high surf and some storm surge. The rest of the South will be fairly dry except for isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms across parts of the southern Plains on Sunday. Daytime temperatures over the next few days will be in the upper 80s and 90s, ranging mostly from near average to 10 degrees above average.
Midwest: A dry Sunday is forecast region-wide with cold front with a few disturbances moving slowly northeastward from the Dakotas to the Ohio Valley over the next 4 days. A hot, upper-level high pressure area will precede the cold front with daytime temperatures ranging from 5 to nearly 20 degrees above average between the 80s and 90s. Also, southerly to southwesterly winds will continue to be gusty each day just ahead of the front. Once the front passes through, daytime temperatures will range from near average to 10 degrees below average which translates into highs in the 60s and 70s.
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Northeast: Hurricane Ophelia could bring some heavy rain into southeast Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay area by late Tuesday into Wednesday. It will be rather chilly to start on Sunday morning with widespread frost across northern New England and northern New York, followed by highs in the 60s and 70s Sunday afternoon.
West: On Sunday, the cold front will stretch from southeast Wyoming to southern Nevada. The fall-like upper level system over the Northwest will bring more showers, thunderstorms and high mountain snow to parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana and northwest Wyoming on Sunday. Winds will also be gusty in the Rockies and high Plains. Behind the front over the interior Northwest, daytime temperatures will be up to 15 degrees below average Sunday with daytime highs in the 40s (mountains), 50s and 60s. In the Southwest quadrant of the nation, there will be widely scattered thunderstorms across eastern Arizona and New Mexico on Sunday and temperatures will be 5 to 10 degrees below average across California and Nevada and parts of Utah and Arizona. (NWS, Media Sources)
Katrina stories
Major Developments in Katrina's Aftermath
Bush returns to Gulf Coast emerging from Katrina, La. Senator Rips Bush Hurricane Response, Cheney Visits Hurricane Evacuee Sites, Newsview: Presidents Judged Over Crises
President George W. Bush revisited the Gulf Coast to mark the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, as some positive signs such as restoration of electricity in places began to emerge.
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. told CBS' "Face the Nation" that Washington was obligated to support local and state officials, "particularly in times of tragedy and stress, not to pile on them, not to make their suffering worse." She said, "While the president is saying that he wants to work together as a team, I think the White House operatives have a full court press on to blame state and local officials whether they're Republicans or Democrats. It's very unfortunate."
Vice President Dick Cheney toured sites in Texas. He remarked, "I think we are in fact on our way to getting on top of the whole Katrina exercise". Outside the Austin Convention Center shelter, about two dozen protesters chanted, "Cheney, Cheney, you can't hide, we charge you with genocide."
Presidents are judged for how well they handle crises, for example: George H.W.Bush and Hurricane Andrew, Bill Clinton and the Oklahoma City bombings. President Bush did not get off to a good start with Hurricane Katrina.
Big toll seen for budget from Katrina, Katrina May Cost U.S. as Much as Two Wars
The estimated $150 billion budgeted for Hurricane Katrina recovery on top of the cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars will mean even bigger record budget deficits fore some years, and more may be needed in the long term, possibly a total of $300 billion. Treasury Secretary John Snow said, "While this will elevate spending levels for '06 - primarily because that's when the major effects will hit - we're going to stay on track with the president's deficit-reduction program". Nevertheless, lawmakers are considering further tax cuts, in the hope of stimulating the economy. More than $300 billion has been spent in four years to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq.
FEMA Has Paid $669M to Katrina Victims
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has already paid $669 million to victims of Hurricane Katrina, with 573,262 households registered for benefits.
Much of Gulf of Mexico Oil Still Blocked
Only 38.2 percent of the gulf's normal daily gas production of 10 billion cubic feet is reaching the market, and a similar figure for oil.
Searches, Cleanup Continue in New Orleans, Feds Drop Media Ban on Katrina Recovery, Forensic Crews Collect New Orleans Corpses, Waters recede but frustration high in New Orleans, General: Feds Won't Enforce Evacuation, Smell of Death Eventually Goes Away, Rescuers find fewer dead than feared
Pausing to commemorate 9/11, firefighters and others continued the searches and cleanup in New Orleans, and the commemoration in New York remembered the victims of hurricane Katrina. The water level has fallen. Charity Hospital cannot be reopened because the basement is full of water, preventing electricity from being restored. Still nobody is being forced to evacuate. The army will not enforce the evacuation order, which it says is the responsibility of state and local authorities, and is still handing out food and water and other aid.
CNN filed a suit against the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the U.S. District Court in Houston late Friday concerning a ban of the press showing photos of dead bodies in New Orleans. In a hearing Saturday there was a promise that the press would ot be barred, so CNN put its case on hold. Photographers will not be in boats or helicopters during the recovery of bodies from flooded homes, however.
Biloxi Port Eases Back Into Business
Limited commercial traffic has been allowed into the port at Biloxi. Both pollutants and debris have made the area hazardous. Shrimping is unlikely to resume this year.
Katrina May Lead to Miss. Casino Debate
There is a likely to be a lively debate on whether casinos should be allowed to build on land in Mississippi. Allowing casinos on boats was a compromise, and hurricane Katrina crippled the industry.
A Look at the Katrina Refugee Situation, Red Cross says needs 40,000 Katrina volunteers
There were approximately 374,000 Hurricane Katrina refugees in 34 states and Washington, D.C.
The American Red Cross said it needs 40,000 additional or replacement volunteers in the next few weeks. Recruits should contact their local branch.
Katrina Exodus Could Change Political Mix
It seems probable that the poorest evacuees, mostly democrats, are the likeliest to stay in the states to which they have been evacuated, with most of them settling in Texas. Political analysts will be watching to see where they settle.
Vulnerable but Vital, Big Easy Will Return
House Speaker Dennis Hastert's opinion notwithstanding, New Orleans will be rebuilt, because of its strategic position as a port, providing a route for many exports and imports.
Hurricane Ophelia Stalls Off Carolinas
Hurricane Ophelia was stalled off the Carolinas on Sunday, keeping meteorologists guessing.
Other stories
Typhoon slams into eastern Chinese city
Typhoon Khanun made a direct hit on Taizhou, a city with a population of over 5 million, in eastern China. Nearly a million people had been evacuated from its path.
Encephalitis Kills Another 55 in India
55 more people died of Japanese encephalitis in India at the weekend and another 87 people were hospitalized. The death toll stood at 649.
Indonesia Probes Possible Case of Bird Flu
Indonesia has a possible human fatality from the bird flu virus, which would bring the total to 4. Tests results should be available in a few days.
Plan Envisions Using Nukes on Terrorists, Pentagon document would alter nuclear weapons plan
A Pentagon planning document, the "Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations", is being updated to reflect President Bush's 2002 declared doctrine of pre-emption. It includes the use of nuclear weapons to deter terrorists from using weapons of mass destruction against the United States or its allies.
Index of topics in this series.
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I think so. Putting aside the fact that for many people there is an emotional attachment to the site, there are many logistical and economic reasons for rebuilding there. If they do rebuild, though, it will have to be with a vastly improved levee system. Anything less would risk a repeat of the same disaster Katrina has caused.
Assuming that they do rebuild, this shows just how high the cost can be if we don't spend the money necessary to maintain the levees, or the coastline as a whole, in the first place. It will be interesting to work out what the rate of return on investment would have been - how much the money in coastal work we would have spent (if we had listened to the experts) would have saved in relief and rebuilding and damage to the economy costs.
Does anyone know of any other maintenance tasks have been left underfunded or standards that have been left too low (e.g. building standards in earthquake zones or pollution standards in ill health hotspots) where money and effort invested would be well spent?
[Views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of CompuServe, Netscape, any government, agency, or news organization]
Here's the EPA's Response Activity for Sunday, September 11, 2005 relating to hurricane Katrina:
Flood Water Analysis -- On 9/9, EPA in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality posted data from New Orleans flood water samples collected from 12 locations in the September 3-5 time period. The data has been reviewed and validated through a quality assurance process to ensure scientific accuracy. The results show the public and emergency responders should avoid contact with the standing water and are publicly available at the EPA website - http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/index.html. Daily sampling is ongoing and EPA, in coordination with federal, state and local agencies will continue to release data as it becomes available. On 9/7, Administrator Johnson released the initial sampling results at a news conference.
Public Advisories - On 9/6, EPA and HHS issued an advisory cautioning the public and all responders about the possible hazards of flood waters due to potentially elevated levels of contamination associated with raw sewage and other hazardous materials. On 9/4, EPA issued an advisory to the public urging caution when disposing of household hazardous waste and asbestos-containing debris from storm-damaged homes and other buildings.
Recovery - EPA discontinued search and rescue operations in LA on 9/9 to focus on environmental response activities. Approximately, 793 rescues have been made by EPA in LA.
Drinking Water Assessment - EPA continues assessment of damage to local drinking systems and providing technical assistance to help restore service in AL, MS, and LA. Many systems were disabled or impaired by loss of electrical power, and some are now operating under boiled water notices. The total number of systems that remain affected is 1 in AL, 433 in MS, and 468 in LA. EPA has two mobile laboratories in MS and two in LA.
Wastewater Treatment Facilities - EPA continues to assess wastewater treatment facilities in LA and MS. EPA estimates the number of wastewater treatment facilities affected is now 114 in LA and 9 in MS. All wastewater systems in AL are operating normally.
Air Surveillance - EPA's environmental surveillance aircraft (ASPECT) is being used to assess spills and chemical releases. On 9/7, ASPECT conducted overflights of railroad yards. There are plans being developed for using this aircraft to conduct radiological surveys if proven necessary.
Air Monitoring - Initial air screening will be performed by the EPA Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) buses.
Incident Management Team - On 9/6, EPA personnel staffing of a second full Incident Management Team (IMT) began mobilization to LA. On 9/2 EPA deployed a 17 person IMT to Baton Rouge to integrate with LA officials and manage EPA's field operations.
Peer Support & Critical Incident Stress Management Team (CISM) - EPA has deployed CISM team members to Baton Rouge, LA and Jackson, MS to consult with all EPA staff conducting field operations in areas impacted by the hurricane.
Fuel Waivers - On 9/9, EPA extended a limited waiver from the reformulated gasoline (RFG) requirement for gasoline sold in the Richmond, VA, metropolitan area through 9/23. In consultation with DOE, we are closely monitoring gasoline supplies as we consider requests for waivers in other areas. On 9/9, EPA extended Georgia's request to waive its state sulfur requirement through 10/5 which required clean burning gasoline to be sold in the 45-county area of Atlanta. On 8/31, to alleviate possible fuel shortages across the country and to help meet emergency demand, EPA granted a nationwide fuel waiver that allows refiners, importers, distributors, carriers and retail outlets to supply gasoline and diesel fuels that do not meet standards for emissions. The temporary waiver is in effect through 9/15.
Hazardous Waste Disposal - On 9/10, EPA will begin setting up household hazardous waste collection centers for each affected Parish in LA. EPA personnel continue to offer technical assistance in the disposal of hazardous waste and other debris left behind by the storm. Teams are working closely with the Coast Guard to conduct assessments of potential oil spills and chemical releases caused by the hurricane.
Technical Expertise - EPA will be providing environmental guidelines for residences and commercial buildings. EPA has practical and scientific expertise in the environmental health hazards caused by flood waters, especially the effects of molds and mildew, and in the disposal of household hazardous waste and asbestos-containing materials from storm-damaged buildings.
